Blog Archives
Thank God For The Sinners
Thank God for the Sinners follows Rick Price through a chaotic life shaped by violence, lust, trauma, and the constant pull of self-destruction. The book opens with Rick in a seedy Chinese hotel, where a sexual encounter spirals into a death that sets the tone for everything that follows. His past and present crash into each other as he traces the roots of his darkness through childhood injuries, family dysfunction, rage, and addiction. The narrative swings between his time abroad, entangled with corrupt businessmen, and his early life on Long Island, where pain and fear molded him into someone who can’t decide if he’s cursed or simply wired wrong.
The writing hits hard without trying to be fancy. It’s blunt, messy, and weirdly charming in parts because Rick is both awful and strangely human. I felt uncomfortable many times. I also laughed a little because the voice is so honest that even the worst moments feel like confessions from a guy who knows he’s a walking disaster. The early scenes, like the baby nurse incident and the diaper accident with his brother, stuck with me. They’re told with this eerie calm that made me feel like I was sitting across from Rick while he casually unpacked a lifetime of bruises.
I also found myself reacting emotionally to how the book explores shame. The scenes in China are wild and reckless, yet the real punch comes from how Rick narrates his loneliness and fear right underneath all the bravado. The book doesn’t soften him or try to redeem him. Instead, it lets him expose his scars in his own voice. I caught myself rooting for him even though he’s digging himself deeper into chaos. The whole thing feels like reading someone’s secret diary that was never meant to be found.
I’d recommend this book to readers who enjoy dark, confessional stories that don’t pull any punches. If you like memoir-style fiction that feels like a whirlwind of bad choices, trauma, humor, and raw honesty, this book is worth your time. This book reads like a harsher, more chaotic cousin to Fight Club, trading sleek rebellion for something messier and more personal. It also carries the bruised honesty of A Million Little Pieces, only with fewer apologies and a lot more bite.
Pages: 348 | ASIN : B0F9BQMF9Z
Discovering Her Courage
Flee follows a Marine Reserve and librarian-in-training, who, while on a bus journey to a family reunion, ends up in a desperate fight for survival after a nuclear catastrophe devastates Washington State. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
In Escape, the first book in the Haven series, survivors make their way to Haven in waves—some travel alone, some in groups, some are injured, and some barely hold on. As I wrote the story, I realized that not everyone could reach safety at the same time. Some characters are close, while others are far away, trapped in the chaos when the world ended. This opened the door for individual stories of struggle, loss, and survival to unfold simultaneously.
While I worked through book one, Sadie’s absence lingered as a question—for me and, eventually, for readers. Flee grew out of my need to answer it. I wanted to explore the survival of someone without immediate shelter, someone caught in transit when everything collapsed, and someone forced to fight—both physically and emotionally—to make it home.
Sadie is a woman with strength and incredible intellect. What do you think makes her a valuable and worthy heroine?
In Escape, I introduced the “five musketeers.” Three of the women are entering adulthood, and Sadie has always been the instigator. While Beth is quieter and still discovering her courage, Sadie knows her own strength and intellect—and isn’t afraid to use them. She may possess the drive to take what she wants out of life, but she falters with love and vulnerability. Sadie challenges the control men in her life exert upon her, pushing her to rebel. Her journey is about finding balance—between strength and trust—and that evolution truly defines her as a heroine.
I felt that the action scenes were expertly crafted. I find that this is an area that can be overdone in novels. How did you approach this subject to make sure it flowed evenly?
I’m a visual person, so to write action scenes with weapon elements, I needed to first understand fighting techniques and the moves involved. Watching my son earn his junior black belt in Taekwondo taught me a lot in real time—especially about defending yourself in various positions and how hard it is to fight for your life. Understanding the difference between weight classes and genders was also crucial. You can be small and still cause damage, but at what cost? Then there’s the added layer of weapons and the types that may be involved. As Sadie says, “Knife trumps stick.” She knew there would be a cost, though.
I hope the series continues in other books. If so, where will the story take readers?
Even though the women are my protagonists, my two secondary characters, Donovan and Hoss, stayed at the forefront of my mind during these two books. Donovan is an open book to my readers. He craves control to maintain stability in his life and demands it from his children and everyone around him. Hoss, on the other hand, is a laid-back, “you do you” kind of man. My readers know little about him—something I intentionally kept vague—but there are breadcrumbs scattered throughout if they look closely enough.
After doing their family trees, I realized I gave Donovan more daughters and Hoss more sons. I researched which gender was easier to raise, and the results were interesting, so I played on that. (Sons are easier, it appears.)
Beth isn’t blood-related, so I started with her story first in Escape. The found-family trope is strong throughout my stories. In Flee, we circle back to follow Donovan’s oldest, Sadie, as she battles to reach Haven. Donovan’s second oldest, Gina, appears in Beth’s story and continues her journey in the second book. In the third and fourth books, Hoss’s family becomes my focus, revealing more about Hoss’s background. Though he might sport funny sayings on his t-shirts and love recon, Hoss has many layers to peel back.
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Facing the collapse of civilization, a feisty and independent young woman embarks on a perilous adventure that pushes her to her limits and challenges her long-held goals.
The missile marked the beginning of Sadie’s nightmare. The demands of a crumbling society, dangerous terrain, and her own weakening, feverish body will test her courage.
Sadie wants to flee to the safety of her family’s compound, where Liam waits, and the ache in her chest is a constant reminder of her feelings for him.
Despite his calm exterior, Liam anxiously awaits Sadie’s arrival. More questions than answers remain: Where is Sadie? Why hasn’t she made it to Haven like the fortunate few?
Hunter has his own plans. Escaping the taint of his family’s criminal past puts him in Sadie’s path. She struggles to trust him. Forced together, their connection deepens, placing her family and all of Haven in extraordinary danger.
Survival depends on Sadie taking control of her own life and deciding whom to trust and whom to love. Her decision could set her free…or destroy her and everyone she loves.
Embark on an unforgettable adventure to Haven with these memorable characters, experiencing twists and turns you look for in a fast-paced, gripping read.
A tangled web of love, shifting loyalties, and explosive conflicts drives the Haven series forward, with the same intensity and passion as Kyla Stone’s Edge of collapse saga.
Literary Titan Gold Award Winner
New Dreams and Career Possibilities
Charli’s Pawsome Park follows a curious girl who meets a landscape architect and wonders if she could design her own dog park, so with the help of her friends, she does, but not without some challenges. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I taught 2nd and 3rd Grade, and I well remember the perpetual question of “WHY do we need to learn this?” With this series, I’m showing kids the why behind STEM activities and education. I want them to see that STEM can be fun and practically applied. Hopefully, this will open their eyes to new dreams and career possibilities.
Is there anything about Charli that came from yourself or your life experiences?
Like Charli, I’ve always loved school and learning new things. But when I was a child, girls were not really encouraged to pursue STEM fields. I want to help change that narrative so that my own granddaughters and their peers know that they can choose any educational and career paths they desire.
What was one scene in the novel that you felt captured the morals and message you were trying to deliver to readers?
Chapter 3 shows Charli and Molly brainstorming ideas for the dorsal device. This scene introduces the themes that are more deeply explored in the rest of the book: leadership, teamwork, overcoming adversity, empathy, and female empowerment.
Can you tell us more about what’s in store for Charli and the direction of the next book?
Charli’s Dorsal Device: An Engineering Adventure is Book #3 in this series. In it, Charli owns her engineering company and designs a GPS tracking device for a dolphin.
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Peaches and Jake Celebrate Christmas
Peaches and Jake Celebrate Christmas is a sweet little story about two rescue pups waking up on Christmas morning to discover the surprises Santa left them under the tree. They each get giant bones and then two toys, a moose for Jake and a fox for Peaches, and the rest of the day unfolds with the dogs learning what to do with their gifts. Jake destroys his moose with pure joy, Peaches figures out that Foxie makes a perfect nap buddy, and their mom watches over the whole thing with so much love. It feels like flipping through a family photo album where every picture tells its own tiny story.
There is a softness to the writing that feels like someone talking to me from their couch with their dogs at their feet. The real photos of Peaches and Jake add charm because they are so expressive. I kept giggling at Peaches trying to figure out Foxie. And the whole saga of Moosie slowly losing limbs and stuffing had me cracking up. There is something sweet about how Jake loves that toy even when it becomes a little fabric scrap. It says a lot about how dogs attach meaning to things and how we do the same sometimes without even realizing it.
I also liked how the book shows the two dogs having such different personalities. Jake barrels into Christmas like it is the best day of the year. Peaches moves carefully and watches everyone else first. It reminded me of how different pets can be, even when they grow up in the same home. The photos on almost every page make it easy to stay engaged. Honestly, it felt a little like being invited into the author’s living room to watch a memory replay itself.
I think this picture book is perfect for young kids who like animals and for grown-ups who just want something soft and happy to read. It is especially lovely for dog lovers or anyone who enjoys holiday stories that feel real and cozy. If you want a children’s book that brings a smile without trying too hard, this one is a great choice. It is playful, sweet, and full of genuine affection, and that makes it a wonderful holiday read for families.
Pages: 48 | ASIN : B0DFDWN1SN
A Bold Bargain
A Bold Bargain follows Jack Blaine, an eighteen-year-old conservation agent in 1950s Missouri who keeps stumbling into danger, mystery, and unexpected connections. The story moves between tense encounters with poachers, the quiet bond between a boy and a half-wolf pup, and Jack’s growing involvement with vulnerable people near the Sac River. The book blends rugged outdoor life with soft moments of compassion, and it ties everything together with a thread of personal history that Jack can’t quite outrun.
Jack’s mix of grit and gentleness lands with a real thump in the chest, and the writing makes his inner world feel close enough to touch. The scenes along the river pulled me in fast. The pacing shifts from calm to sharp in a blink, and that rhythm kept me turning pages even when I told myself I should stop. The dialogue feels natural, plain spoken, and warm. I liked how it brought out the heart of the community around him. No big speeches. Just people trying to make sense of life as it comes.
I also felt a tug of emotion watching how Jack steps into other people’s pain without hesitation. His encounters with Mrs. Fletcher and the French family hit me harder than I expected. The writing paints poverty, loneliness, and aging with a simple brush, and it still lands heavy. Nothing feels overplayed. I appreciated how the book lets kindness show up quietly, almost shyly. At the same time, I wanted just a touch more complexity in a few side characters. Still, the sincerity in the storytelling made me forgive that pretty quickly. I could tell the author cares deeply about these people and this place, and that care shines through.
A Bold Bargain is a book for readers who enjoy heartfelt stories set against open sky and rough country roads. If you like character-driven tales with danger, tenderness, and a little old-fashioned grit, this one will be perfect for you. In many ways, A Bold Bargain reminded me of Where the Crawdads Sing, because both stories mix raw nature, quiet resilience, and the fierce pull of human connection into something that stays with you.
Pages: 346 | ASIN : B0FD7VSY68
Women Pushing Back
Bound in Flames follows a young woman whose long-buried magic rears its head during a moment of fear and fury as she copes with her particularly brutal life. Where did the idea for this novel come from?
The Savage Hearts series has been taking shape in my head for nearly ten years. I wanted to explore the darker side of an oppressive kingdom, specifically what happens when a single religion is allowed to control politics and power, and how easily that leads to cruelty being justified as righteousness.
I also wanted to flip a familiar fantasy narrative. In this world, humans are the villains, while the “monsters”—the orcs—are largely peaceful, and once lived in harmony with them and their magic before the war. At its core, the series is about resistance, especially women pushing back against systems designed to control and silence them. Each book follows a different FMC who represents a different way of fighting oppression, and despite not being warriors, they continue to stand for what is right.
I find the world you created in this novel brimming with possibilities. Where did the inspiration for the setting come from, and how did it change as you were writing?
The setting was actually fairly solid before I ever put pen to paper. A lot of my early thinking focused on how magic would manifest differently for humans and orcs, and how those differences shaped where and how each culture settled.
The Wild Lands became a space where I could fully embrace the raw and untamed side of the magic system, which naturally led to questions about economics, trade, and survival. From there, I sketched a map, planned trade routes, and used the geography itself as a storytelling tool. I’m a complete nerd when it comes to worldbuilding, so figuring out how everything fits together was honestly my favorite part.
From there, it was a matter of working through where I wanted to have this story start. The initial story that I saw in my head is actually 3rd in the series! I had to back it all the way up to tell the important beginnings of this world.
What was the inspiration for Cleo’s traits and dialogue?
I was getting tired of fantasy heroines who are barely out of their teens, always knew the right thing to do, and were somehow always victorious. I wanted to write a story for me, to create a character where readers sit inside Cleo’s fear and uncertainty as her magic spirals beyond her grasp. She’s 26, anxious, and carrying trauma that seeps into everything she does. Her power is unpredictable at times, and every time she reaches for it, she knows she doesn’t have any control over the consequences.
Her sass is also her armor. It’s the shield she uses to hide her anxiety and keep the world at arm’s length. But around Dex, that edge softens, her defenses dull, and she allows herself to be seen. Even terrified, even knowing her future is uncertain, Cleo chooses to stand with the orcs and protect those she loves. I wanted to remind readers that bravery isn’t the absence of fear. It’s being terrified and choosing to act anyway. Trauma is real, and it’s something I know personally. I wanted to write a character shaped by it, but not defined by it—and to give readers who relate a place to belong.
Where will Book 2 take readers? When can we expect to see it released?
Kneel in the Ashes releases June 1st, 2026, and takes readers deeper into the Wild Lands and deeper into the rot at the heart of the kingdom. When Rowan saves an orc from Ostelan Knights, she’s pulled into the middle of a brewing war, but this time on the opposite side. Trained by the Church of the Silver Hand in her youth to be a weapon, Rowan was meant to become a monster in the name of righteousness, but she ran instead. 11 years later, she’s seeking redemption for the cruelty carried out in the Church’s name, and vengeance for everything they stole from her childhood.
The book expands the world, revealing the motivations of the Ostelan Crown and the Church, and how deeply corruption has poisoned the kingdom. Each installment in the series offers a different female perspective on life under oppressive rule, and how even the smallest action can turn the tide of war.
No masters. No mercy. No surrender. Welcome to the rebellion.
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When Cleo is rescued by Dex, a ruthless orc chieftain of the Blackfoot Clan, she’s thrust into a world ruled by savage loyalty and primal power. For centuries, the humans and orcs have been locked in brutal war after the Ostelan Crown broke the ancient treaties, driving the orcs into hiding. Now, Cleo’s untamed magic is the key to saving the orcs—but it also tempts her with a darkness she may not escape. As her power grows and her bond with Dex deepens, she faces an impossible choice: choose to fulfill the prophecy, sacrificing herself, or surrender to the seductive magic and risk everything to be with the one she loves.
Dex has vowed to protect his people at any cost, even if it means using the woman fate has bound to him. But Cleo’s fire stirs something primal in him—something far more dangerous than war. As tensions rise and the stakes grow higher, Dex must decide whether his duty to his clan outweighs the undeniable pull of his heart.
Let the Story Unfold
Forbidden Runes follows a girl stolen from her royal past and raised in hiding, who grows into a bold young woman using forbidden rune magic to save others, till she is faced with the man she both fears and loves. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
My inspiration for this novel was a combination of a couple of TV shows that I was watching at the time, along with a few novels that I was reading or had read. Your review seemed to pick up a couple of those inspirational items, which surprised me. I did not believe that I was successful in adding those elements into the story, but I am happy to see that I did.
I find the world you created in this novel brimming with possibilities. Where did the inspiration for the setting come from, and how did it change as you were writing?
I don’t want to give too much away, but the setting came from the thought of what happens to magical places when the magic starts dying out. I set this on a ‘small island’ in this world. The magic is dying, although the characters don’t know it. The thing I love about science fiction and fantasy is that I can make anything happen. I hope the changes that take place in the next book will surprise the readers.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I don’t write like other authors. Most authors begin with an outline, with themes, etc. When I write, I base my story on a character and how that character shows me events unfolding. In this book, I didn’t start with a main theme. I knew I wanted it to be on the love story for Anna and Ben, and I knew I wanted the Rune powers to be prevalent. After that, I let the story unfold as I wrote.
When will Book Two be available? Can you give us an idea of where that book will take readers?
I am working on book two now and hope to have it ready by September 2026 (if my day job doesn’t get too busy). Book Two will bring to light that the magic was slowly dying off and how they can bring it back to life. It will also expand the setting greatly. More information on the Rune powers will be brought to light along with a few new characters.
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Ben has been hoping that one day he will find his missing childhood love. He never dreamed that they would find her smuggling a caster child out of his kingdom. Now his struggle is to get her to remember her past, avoid a marriage to the new princess of the bordering kingdom, solve the blight issue with his crops, and reunite the two kingdoms. Can his love for Anna be enough to solve all these problems?
Soul of the Saviour
Soul of the Saviour drops you into a wild mix of brutal training grounds, smoky alleys, ancient magic, and the strange heat of Hell itself. The book follows Saxon Payne as he crawls back into life after years in a mystical retreat. It weaves through his past, the rise of lethally gifted assassins, demonic lovers, grim prisons, tender memories, and the looming clash between Heaven, Hell, and everything in between. It moves fast and swings between action, horror, and raw intimacy. Sometimes it feels like half spiritual odyssey and half grindhouse myth. I found myself swept up in the momentum because the story rarely slows down enough for you to catch your breath.
The writing goes for broke. Scenes in Hell’s kitchens shimmer with disgusting brilliance, and scenes of training in the mountains bristle with physical grit and stillness. There is a real commitment to showing bodies under strain and souls under pressure. The prose jumps from grim to tender in a heartbeat, and it gave me that sense of watching someone flip through different emotional filters just to see what hits hardest. The violence is bold. The sensuality is bold. The humor sneaks in with a wink. I liked how messy it all felt, because it made the characters feel lived-in and not staged.
The whole thread around becoming more than human through suffering made me uneasy and fascinated at the same time. I found myself rooting for characters who should have terrified me and shaking my head at choices that were obviously doomed. The story loves duality. Hope beside despair. Faith beside hunger. Love beside something darker and stranger. Sometimes it veers into excess, and sometimes the emotional beats come so fast I had to take a moment to reorient. But even then, I felt drawn along by the sheer confidence of the storytelling. It feels like the author trusts you to surf the chaos, and I liked that.
By the end, I felt satisfied and also curious because the book leaves a lot of questions humming under the surface. I would recommend Soul of the Saviour to readers who enjoy high-energy dark fantasy, intense character arcs, sharp edges, and worlds that bend myth with modern grit. If you like stories that mix heart with horror and beauty with brutality, this one will keep you turning pages long after you planned to stop.
Pages: 325 | ASIN : B0FCDT2J11
LITERARY TITAN 